Spectrum Spark

As an onlooker, watching America today, we are witnessing an alarming assault on the rights, autonomy, and freedom of marginalised communities, particularly through attacks on education, identity, diversity, and the very essence of humanity. For Queer students, many of whom already navigate environments of fear and misunderstanding, their left without the affirmation, acceptance and support they need to thrive. Disabled individuals face not just the weight of societal barriers but also a loss of vital educational resources and financial and legal protections. For BIPOC, the vision of safe, inclusive education is being replaced with a chilling reminder that identities are still something to be erased and invalidated. They’re being taught that their presence, their very needs, are not worthy of acknowledgment or support.

What is happening echoes disturbing parallels to many periods of history where systematic powers sought to diminish and silence those who dared to exist, outside the narrow constructs of the mainstream. The attempt at dismantling vital structures such as the Department of Education, as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies is not merely a political decision – it is a declaration of intent: to strip away the safeguards that protect the most vulnerable. Executive orders aimed at undermining these programmes not only strip away protections for marginalised communities but also leave the nation’s education system weaker and less accessible to all. While these actions are often framed as a necessary correction, they disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, Disabled, as well as other oppressed groups – eroding years of progress towards Equity.

Even more alarming is the supporters for Mr Trump, particularly those from working-class backgrounds or rural areas, fail to see how these polices will ultimately harm them too. In the long run, the very policies they voted for – such as tax cuts and deregulation – will continue to benefit the elite, while other communities suffer from cuts to essential services, diminished healthcare and growing economic inequality. These voters, too, will feel the consequences of the political decisions that prioritise the rich, yet they often remain unaware of the full scope of their disenfranchisement. This reality highlights the tragic irony of supporting a system that ultimately disregards their interests in favour of corporate greed and wealth consolidation.

The erosion of these protections is mirrored in workplaces as well. DEI initiatives were born from the recognition that inclusion cannot be a passive ideal; it must be actively pursued, especially for those whose lived experiences have historically been overlooked or marginalised. It is not just about the loss of diversity in hiring practices – it’s about dismantling the very foundation upon which equitable opportunities were built.

Literature has long warned us of the dangers of a society that seeks to erase or silence its marginalised populations. In works like The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and 1984 by George Orwell, we see governments and institutions manipulate power, slowly stripping people of their autonomy and forcing them to conform to oppressive ‘norms’. Similarly, in books like The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, and The Colour Purple by Alice Walker, the voices of the oppressed rise in defiance, telling their stories of survival in the face of immense systemic violence. These novels don’t just speak to the past – they reflect the present, warning us of the consequences of complacency, and reminding us of the critical importance of protecting the rights of every individual.

It is harrowing to watch these protections being undone in real time. The loss of access to resources, support, and perhaps most crucially, empathy, creates an atmosphere where the most vulnerable members of society are left to face the weight of this cruelty alone. The fight for freedom of speech – meant to be a noble part of American identity – being distorted into something dangerous. It is being weaponised not to amplify diverse voices, but to silence them. We’re seeing political leaders and corporate interests work together to make sure the voices of the marginalised, the ones who needs to be heard the most, are drowned out.

The current battle over reproductive rights is perhaps one of the most devastating examples of how the fight for autonomy is being systematically dismantled. In a nation that has long heralded itself as a beacon of freedom, women’s reproductive rights have been under direct attack in ways that hark back to times when women were viewed as little more than vessels for childbearing. The overturning of Roe v. Wade was not just a legal decision – it was a stark message that the state has the right to control a woman’s body, to dictate her future, and to strip away fundamental human rights. This encroachment on reproductive freedom affects marginalised communities in particular, disproportionately impacting women of colour. For many, the loss of access to abortion is at best a sentence to a life of economic hardship and health risks and at worst, a death sentence.

The rhetoric surrounding ‘the American family’ is equally troubling. The idea of a so-called traditional family – often promoted by political figures and institutions as a model for moral stability – is in reality a dangerously narrow construct. It seeks to define family along rigid, heteronormative lines, erasing the vast diversity of family structures that have always existed throughout the globe. Families can be made up of single parents, grandparents, same-sex couples, adoptive parents, two+ parent homes and many other configurations. The attempt to codify a ‘one size fits all’ model family is an act of cultural violence, one that undermines the lived experiences of countless people who do not fit into these restrictive moulds. It erases the realities of people who find love and kindship in ways that don’t conform to this regressive ideal.

Similarly, the insistence on a binary understanding of gender – claiming that there are only two genders – reveals a profound misunderstanding of human identity and a denial of basic human dignity. This assertion is not only factually incorrect, but also intrinsically harmful. Gender is not a rigid binary, but a spectrum, one that encompasses a wide array of experiences, identities, and expressions. For centuries, many culture have recognised more than two genders – whether through the acknowledgement of Two-Spirit people in indigenous communities or the Hijra community in South Asia. Today, Transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming people continue to assert that gender exists on a spectrum, with an infinite variety of ways people can experience and express gender. To deny identity is to deny reality, which in turn invalidates the lived experiences of millions and to perpetuate a culture of exclusion and harm. The denial of gender identity is rooted not in science, but in rigid societal expectations and bigotry. It is an act of violence against the most vulnerable members of society, who are already at risk of discrimination and marginalisation.

Recent executive orders have also cast a dark shadow over America’s immigration policies, threatening the safety and future of countless individuals seeking refuge and opportunity. These actions have attempted to dismantled critical protections, such as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), and intensified border enforcement tactics, creating an environment of fear and uncertainty for immigrant communities. The consequences are catastrophic, as families are torn, essential workers are stripped of their dignity and livelihood and the very principles of inclusion and compassion that should echo throughout a country like America, are under attack. These policies reflect a broader effort to marginalise immigrants – demonising them instead of recognising and celebrating their vital contributions to society. America’s identity as a nation that was built on immigrants is at risk of being completely erased under these regressive measures.

All of these issues – the erosion of reproductive rights, the enforcement of a singular vision of family, ingrained racism and the denial of gender diversity – are part of a concerted effort to control and oppress those who have historically been denied power and autonomy. They are not isolated incidents, but interconnected struggles for equality and human rights. It is not just about freedom of choice or freedom of identity – it is about the very right to exist as who we are, without fear, shame, or retribution.

The future of America should be one where children, students, workers, and citizens of all backgrounds and abilities have the freedom to exist, learn, work and express themselves without fear of retribution or erasure. If we allow this vision to fade, if we do not challenge these regressions with urgency and resolve, we risk watching a terrifying page of history repeat itself. The time to stand up for what is right, to protect the dignity and autonomy of those who have too long been pushed to the margins, is now. This is not just a fight for the future – it is a fight for humanity.

The fight for rights and protections is far from over, and as these executive orders continue to ricochet through the lives of so many, what is also clear from the events of this week, is the true power lies not in the hands of the few, but in the voices and actions of marginalised and oppressed communities whop are coming together to stand in unwavering resistance, solidarity and the courage to confront injustice. The path forward is uncertain, but the revolution for justice, equality and human dignity is inevitable. History has shown times of adversity. The question is now not whether we will rise, but how quickly and how loudly.

Feature image credit: Wonderopolis.com